Attaching frame for seat covers



2 Sheets-Sheet l A. J. mel-mans ATTACHING FRAME FOR SEAT COVERS s fuL- Sept. 22, 1953 Filed 'April 5, 195o Sept. 22, 1953' A. J. RICHARDS ATTACHING FRAME FOR SEAT COVERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Filed April 3, 195o FIQQ,

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Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES fATENT oFFIcE 2,652,886 ATTACHIN'G FRAME FOR SEAT COVERS Arthur J. Richards, Detroit, Mich. Application April 3, 1950, vSerial No. 153,643

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to `seat covers and lparticularly "to frames for attaching covers tothe cushions and back rests of automobiles.

The main objects of this invention are to proh vide attaching frames for seat covers so that the covers can be easily and quickly attached to the seat cushions and 'back rests of automobiles without the use of tacks and hooks; to provide attaching frames for seat covers that are adjustable to lit the different size seats found in various 'types and makes oi automobiles; and to 'provide attaching frames for 4seat covers that will allow materials such as transparent plastic to be used to cover the upholstering without damaging the material with tacks and hooks.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Figure lis a `perspective view, looking from the back, showing the seat covers attached to the cushion and back rest of the front seat assembly of an `automobile with the attaching frames holding covers in place.

Figure y2 is :a plan view of the attaching frame used to hold the cover on the back rest.

Figure 3 is Van enlarged view looking in the diirection of the arrows 3-3, Fig. V2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line Ll- 4, Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 2 and before assembling.

Figure 6 is a front view partly broken away of the seat assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view `of the trame used to hold the cover on the cushion.

Figure f8 is 'an enlarged sectional View taken through the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section-a1 View taken through the line 9--9, Fig. 6.

Figure l0 is an enlarged view looking in the direction of the arrows lll-lll, Fig. '7.

Figure 1l is a view looking at the back Yof the cushion with the cushion removed from the seat assembly and the cover in place.

Figure l2 is a View looking in the direction of the `arrows vl2-|2, Fig. '7.

Figure 13 is lan enlarged sectional view taken through the line ISK-I3, Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 2l) represents the front seat assembly of an Vautornotive vehicle, 2| the back rest portion that is integral with the frame, 22 the cushion that is removable from the frame, 23 the cover over the back rest, 24 the cover Vover the cushion, 25 the frame holding the cover on the back rest and 2t the frame holding the cover on the cushion.

The attaching frame 25 comprises two like corner members 30, a connecting member -3 l, 'two like end pieces 32 and a tie rod 33.

The corner members 3|! are formed from a flat strip of -metal with a curved face 40 return bent at both edges to form rounded surfaces 4| with nanges l2 substantially parallel to the surface l0 and terminating to allow an opening into ahollow or recess 43 that lextends the full length of the member. A right angle bend forms a short leg t5 ancla long leg 46 with a hole 41 adjacent the end fof the long leg and a hole 48 adjacent the kend ofthe short leg.

The connecting .member 3l `is made of metal of -a width and thickness to have a sliding t in the recess 43 of the corner members. A plurality of holes 4B are spaced along its length. The end pieces 32 are formed lin a U shape of metal of the saine Width and thickness as the connecting member 3| and have a short leg 50 and a long leg 51|.. The .long leg has a sliding lit in the recess 133 of the corner member. A hole 52 is adjacent the end of the short leg and a plurality of holes 53 are spaced along the long leg.

The tie `rod 33 is comprised of two like members 55, one end having a right angle bend forming a leg 5t. A hole 51 is in the leg. A plurality of holes 58 are spaced along the end opposite the short leg. The members '55 are preferably made of metal the ysame size 'in cross section as the end pieces and connecting member.

The attaching `frame 26 comprises two like corner ymembers 60. a connecting member t I, two like end .pieces 62 and a tie rod B3. The corner members et are of metal of the same cross section as member 30 previously described having a recess 4Si! and with a fright angle bend forming `a long leg 65 and a shorter leg 66. A hole 6l is loca-ted adjacent the end of the shorter leg St and a hole 6B adjacent the end of the long leg t5. The connecting member 6| is metal of a width and thickness to have a sliding .t in the recess 6A of the corner members and has a plurality of holes -69 .spaced along its length.

The end pieces 62 are -metal of the same width and thickness as member El with a sliding fit in the recess 64 of the corner members. A right angle bend forms a short leg 10 .and a long leg l. A hole 'l2 is adjacent the end of the short leg and a plurality of holes i3 spaced along the long leg. The tie rod 63 comprises two like mem ber-s 'Sil preferably of metal of the same width and thicknesss as the end pieces. A hole `8i is located adjacent one end and a plurality of holes 82 are 1spaced along the other end.

The cover .23 can be :made of any suitable material and fits snugly over the `back rest 2l with the open end Eof the material lterminating in a loop 9U that extends substantially around the periphery `of the cover.. A gap 9i is at the rear central yportion of the loop and -gaps S2 `and 93 at the side portions of the loop.

The cover 12i is preferably made of the same kind of material as the cover 23 and fits snugly over the cushion 22 with the open end of the material terminating in a loop that extends substantially around the periphery of the cover. A gap |0| is at the front center portion of the loop, a gap |02 at the rear center portion and gaps |03 and |04 at the rear side portions.

To assemble the frame 26 to the cover 24, the corner member 00 is threaded through the loop |00, starting the end of the long leg 65 at the gap |03 and continuing until gap |0| is reached. The other like member 60 is threaded through the loop |00 starting at the gap |04 and continuing until the gap |0| is reached. The connecting member 6| is slid into the recess 64 of the corner members holding them temporarily together. The cushion 22 is removed from the seat assembly and the cover placed over it. The corner members 60 are then permanently fastened together with bolts and nuts l0 with the opening formed by the gap |0| allowing the bolts to pass through holes 68 and the appropriate holes 69 in the member 6| so that the assembly nts snugly around the front and sides of the cushion. The end pieces 92 are then slid into the recess 64 at the end of the short leg 66 of the corner members 60 and fastened by bolts and nuts with the openings formed by the gaps |03 and |04 allowing the bolts to pass through holes 61 and appropriate holes 13 so that the end pieces rit snugly around the rear corner portions of the cushion.

The two like members 80 of the tie rod 63 are fastened together by bolts and nuts I2 with the bolts passing through the appropriate holes 82 so that the tie rod will be of the desired length to join the end pieces. The assembled tie rod is threaded through the loop |00 from the gap |03 to the gap |04 and fastened to the end pieces by bolts and nuts I3 with the bolts passing through holes 3| and 12 at the openings formed by the gaps |03 and |04. It will be understood that the cover is made so that the loop comes in a position on the cushion so that when the frame is adjusted to iit snugly around the cushion the cover will be kept from coming off by the abutment formed at the corners of the cushion by the padding on the top. To assist in holding the cover in place tension spring |05 has one end hooked into the hole |06 located in the member 0| and the other end secured to the bottom portion |01 of the cushion. Wire |08, Fig. 11, has one end secured around the tie rod 63 at the gap |02 and the other end secured to the bottom portion |09 of the cushion.

To assemble the frame to the cover 23 the corner member is threaded through the loop 90 starting the end of the long leg 4B at the gap 92 and continuing until gap 9| is reached. The other like member 30 is started at the gap 93 of the loop 90 and continuing until gap 9| is reached. The connecting member 3| is slid into the recess 43 of the members 30 holding them temporarily in place. With the cushion still removed from the seat assembly the cover is slipped over the back rest. The corner members 30 are then fastened together with bolts and nuts ||4, with the opening formed by the gap 9| allowing the bolts to pass through holes 41 and appropriate holes 49 in the member 3| so that the assembly ts snugly around the back rest.

The long legs 5| of the end pieces 32 are then slid into the recess 43 of the members 30. The members 55 of the tie rod 33 are joined together by bolts and nuts I5 using the appropriate holes 58 so that the assembly is of the desired length to join the end pieces. The tie rod 33 is threaded through the loop 90 from gap 92 to gap 93. The tie rod is then fastened to the end pieces 32 by nuts and bolts H0 using holes 52 and 51. The end pieces are fastened to the corner members with bolts and nuts ||1 with the bolts passing through the holes 48 and the appropriate holes 53 so that the cover fits snugly over the back rest. The under portion |20 of the back rest serves as an abutment to hold the frame in position. To assist in holding the frame in position along the rear part of the back rest tension spring |2| has one end fastened in hole |22 of the connecting member 3| and the other end hooked under portion |23 of the seat. The cushion can then be placed back in position on the seat assembly.

The construction of the attaching frames are such that they will t the different size cushions and back rests of similar construction found in the different models and makes of automobiles. All that is necessary is to use the appropriate holes in joining the members of the frame together when assembling them with the covers to vthe cushion and back rest. It will be understood that the covers are fabricated from patterns to fit each of the individual sizes of cushions and back rests while the connecting member, end pieces and tie rod are of a desired length and have their holes spaced to obtain the desired adjustability. 'Ihe adjustable feature of the attaching frame makes for economy of manufacture as the necessity for different sizes are eliminated.

With my attaching frames the covers can be made to fit over only the portions of the cushions and back rests that receive the most wear. The portions of the covers that are usually necessary for nailing to tacking strips and attaching to the underside of the seat assemblies by hooks and wires are eliminated. The covers are inexpensive to manufacture and can be put on the seats quickly with the use of ordinary tools.

Such modifications of my inventions may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intention of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a cover formed of pliable material and shaped to surround and be slipped downward over the top of a seat and having an open hem around the periphery of its lower edge, a frame comprising a plurality of elongated rigid separable members insertable into the hem through an opening therein and connected together in an end to end relationship encircling the seat.

2. In a cover formed of pliable material and shaped to surround and be slipped downward over the top of a seat and having an open hem around the periphery of its lower edge, a frame comprising a. plurality of elongated rigid separable members insertable into the hem through an openlng therein, means connecting said members together 1n an end to end relationship encircling the seat, said connecting means being adjustable as to the peripheral length of said frame.

ARTHUR J. RICHARDS.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

